Jimmy Choux (NZ) Sets Hastings Alight

The $5 Cox Plate favourite Jimmy Choux (NZ) added Group 1 number five to his record at Hastings on Saturday with an impressive win in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Spring Classic (2040m).

Trained by John Bary and ridden by Jonathan Riddell, Jimmy Choux (NZ) (Thorn Park x Cierzo) got back in transit after jumping well and looked in deep trouble on the turn with Group 1 NZ International Stakes winner, the Karaka graduate Red Ruler bolting away by five lengths in the straight.

But Riddell was calm under pressure and got Jimmy Choux out in the clear where the son of Thorn Park used his turn-of-foot to devastating effect, reeling in Red Ruler at the 100 metre mark and taking the race by one-and-three-quarter-lengths going away.

It was Jimmy Choux's second win in Hawke's Bay's Triple Crown after winning the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate and his connections, trainer John Bary and part owner Richard Wood, remained focused on the task at hand with the team having their sights clearly set on the Cox Plate.

"Everything we are doing with Jimmy Choux we are doing with the sole focus of getting the horse ready for the Cox Plate," said Bary.

New Zealand bred horses have won the last four Cox Plates with El Segundo in 2007, Maldivian in 2008 and So You Think in 2009 and 2010.

The John Sargent trained Red Ruler (NZ) (Viking Ruler x Ransom Bay) put in a big effort to take second equal with Hold it Harvey, and his break at the top of the straight with Chad Ormsby in the saddle looked to be the winning bid in his fight to the post. A prolific performer, his stakes earnings from his nine wins are just shy of $1.6 million.

Running into second equal was the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup winner Hold it Harvey (King Cugat x Daly Charm) who ran on well in the final stages for Terri Rae. He has proven himself a top performer for the Ready to Run Sale after winning the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup last season and running third to Jimmy Choux in his last start in the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate.

Jimmy Choux was bred and is raced by Chouxmaani Investments and has now won 12 of his 21 starts for stakes earnings of over $2.9 million.